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Hebrews 11:1 - FAITH.

Hebrews 11:1 (GNT) To have faith is to be 
sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of 
the things we cannot see. 

COMMENTARY PEARL

Living by Faith
   A few years ago, January in my area was 
unseasonably warm. We had blue skies, no hint of rain, 
and cold, frosty mornings that made way for 
warmer afternoons. The pruned rosebushes looked 
like thorny twigs. The bottlebrush still had a 
few blooms that fed a hummingbird. A dozen 
daffodils were showing their shiny yellow faces. It 
should have been raining, but the sky was hazy ice 
blue with a few wisps like downy feathers. 
   Sprouts were popping up all over our 
backyard - fooled by the warm weather into thinking 
it was spring. The question was, were those 
little sprouts basing their hope for spring on 
something solid enough to help them survive the 
possibly troubled times ahead? 
   Are we?
   In this rush-rush, busy-busy world packed 
with technology and knowledge, do we look to the 
pundits and seemingly powerful to give us hope for 
the future? Or do we trust in the Lord and the 
power of His strength to show us the path to walk? 
Faith is not merely wishful thinking that makes us 
feel better when we're having a bad day. The 
writer of Hebrews tells us that faith "shows the 
reality of what we hope for." Another translation of 
that verse uses remarkably solid words to talk 
about an abstract concept: "Now faith is the 
assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of 
things not seen" (ESV, emphasis added). Faith is 
real and tangible because it is grounded in God, 
who is the ultimate reality. 
   The little sprouts in the backyard gave 
me a reason to pause and ask myself: Where is 
my faith planted? If I look to the world for 
solutions, my faith will be weak and I will wither and 
die. If I look to the Lord and His promises, my 
faith will be strong, based on what is true. He 
will cause me to grow even in the hardest of 
circumstances. 
   This little sprout chooses Jesus. Today 
and tomorrow and always, one day at a time, I 
choose to live by faith. 
   Lord God, I want my faith to be strong 
and based on You. Help me each day to choose to 
live by faith. I can't always trust the things I 
see; things in this life won't last. May I put my 
trust in You - the only One who is eternal, and 
rock-solid, and good. [Earth Psalms by Francine Rivers 
re Heb. 11:1-3] 

COMMENTARY

God Wants To Take You Deeper In Faith
   I dont know what step you need to take 
next, but I do know that you need to take it. 
Maybe your next step is to accept Jesus Christ 
into your life. Or perhaps its time to be 
baptized. Maybe you need to join a church, get into a 
small group, start tithing, find a ministry, go on 
a mission trip, or invite a friend to church. 
I dont know what your next step is, but I 
do know this: You have one. God will never be 
finished taking you deeper in faith. There is always 
a next step. 
   If you dont take the next step, 
youre going to get stuck in a rut - and the only 
difference between a grave and a rut is the length. If 
you dont move forward in faith, you will die. 
Your heart will grow cold, and you will feel more 
distant from God. He isnt going to help you with 
steps two, three, four, and five until you take 
step one. If youre asking God to help you with 
something, hes asking you, Why havent you done 
what Ive already told you to do? You may 
have been aiming to do something. Stop 
aiming and pull the trigger. 
   Before Bartimaeus met Jesus, he was 
sitting beside the road, a blind man begging for 
handouts. After he received his sight from the Lord, 
he began following [Jesus] on the road 
(Mark 10:52 NASB). Which of those two phrases 
describes your life: sitting beside the road or 
following Jesus on the road? Which of those two 
lifestyles do you think is more fulfilling? Which do 
you think has more joy, more meaning, and more 
satisfaction? Which one do you want to represent your 
life? 
   Theres only one way to follow Jesus on 
the road: Take the next step. 
   Faith is more than believing. Faith is 
more than thinking, talking, or having 
convictions about Jesus. Faith is action. It is 
movement; it is activity. Faith is something you do. 
In fact, the Bible says in James 2:14, If 
people say they have faith, but do nothing, their 
faith is worth nothing (NCV). 
   Where do you get the faith to begin a 
fresh start? Theres only one source: Jesus 
Christ. 
   Everything that we have - right 
thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh 
start - comes from God by way of Jesus Christ 
(1 Corinthians 1:30 The Message). Bartimaeus 
had no idea that Jesus Christ was going to pass 
his way that day. To him, it was just another 
day. But God gave him an unexpected opportunity 
that offered him a fresh start. God is giving you 
the same opportunity. Dont miss it. Take your 
next step of faith before the opportunity passes 
you by. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/ re Mark 10:52] 

Putting Faith into Action
   If nothing else were said about you, let 
it be said, That is a man of God or 
That is a woman of God. I cant think of a 
higher compliment. 
   Moses is described in the Bible as the 
man of God (Deuteronomy 33:1 NKJV). He was a 
flawed man, yes. But he also was a man of God. 
   Initially Moses didnt want to do what 
God called him to do. He was reluctant. But God 
had put His hand on Moses from the time he was a 
baby. His story is almost like a fairy tale, 
except its true. We know how God providentially 
protected baby Moses in his waterproof basket as he 
floated down the Nile. And almost as though on cue, 
the daughter of Pharaoh heard Moses cry, walked 
over, and saw the beautiful baby. Her maternal 
instincts kicked in, and she adopted Moses as her 
own. 
   Moses had everything he could want, but 
he knew it wasnt what God wanted for him. 
Hebrews 11:24"25 tells us, By faith Moses, when 
he became of age, refused to be called the son 
of Pharaohs daughter, choosing rather to 
suffer affliction with the people of God than to 
enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (NKJV). 
Moses made the right choices in life. 
   Moses was a world changer, and the key 
characteristic of a world changer can be summed up in one 
word: faith. Hebrews 11 defines faith as the 
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things 
not seen (verse 1 NKJV). Faith is like a 
muscle. It needs to be used. If we neglect it, it 
will atrophy. It has to be in constant use. It 
comes down to this: Use it or lose it. Moses put 
faith into action, and we need to do the same. [By 
Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com re Heb. 11:1-2] 

EXAMPLES 

   Have you ever looked into a magnifying 
mirror? Its disturbing when you see everything up 
close. It isnt a bad thing to see your flaws, 
your shortcomings, and your sins. Just dont 
allow yourself to be identified by them. 
   The Bible says that if anyone is in 
Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed 
away; behold, all things have become new (2 
Corinthians 5:17 NKJV). In what is called the Heroes 
Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11 presents us with an 
amazing collection of characters. Some of those who 
made it in are expected, but then there are some 
surprising entries as well, like Jacob. 
   If we were honest about Jacob, wed 
have to admit that this guy was a rascal, big 
time. This reminds us that Hebrews 11 is filled 
with ordinary people like us. They were world 
changers, and we, too, can be world changers. 
   They discovered the secret of staying on 
top is not talent. It is not opportunities or 
status. It is faith in God. These people were far 
from perfect. They failed often. But they are not 
in the Heroes Hall of Faith because they were 
great people. They are in it because they had 
faith in a great God. 
   Heres what I find fascinating. You 
wont find a single mention of any of their sins 
in this passage. And they did sin. However, not 
one word of their failure is mentioned. Why? 
Because they were forgiven, and God gives second 
chances. They were looked at for what they became, 
not what they were. 
   In the same way, when God looks at you He 
sees a work in progress. But He doesnt just 
see you for what you are in the moment; He sees 
you for what you can become. [By Greg Laurie 
from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

   If we learn anything from the world 
changers of Hebrews 11, we learn they were flawed 
people. They were far from perfect. In fact, they 
failed often. The men and women we read about in 
what I call the Heroes Hall of Faith are not 
there because they were great people; they are 
there because they had faith in a great God. 
   Consider some of the world changers 
mentioned there and in other places in Scripture. 
Abraham, the father of faith, lied twice about Sarah 
being his wife because, well, he lacked faith. 
Their son Isaac did the same thing. Sarah laughed 
at Gods promise of a child and then denied 
she laughed. Isaacs son Jacob lied and 
connived. 
   Noah got drunk. Samson was a very immoral 
man. Gideon was afraid. Rahab was a prostitute. 
David was an adulterer and a murderer. Elijah was 
suicidal at one point. Jonah ran from God. The 
disciples fell asleep while they were praying. The 
Samaritan woman was divorced more than once. 
   So whats your excuse? Think about it. 
These people messed up, but God gave them second 
chances. Maybe you need a second chance. Maybe 
youve had a lapse of faith. 
   We all fail in life. We all have lapses. 
Simon Peter openly denied the Lord, but God gave 
him a second chance. Jesus recommissioned him at 
the Sea of Galilee. What about Jonah? He ran 
from God, but God got his attention in the 
stomach of a great fish. Jonah came to his senses 
and was given a second chance. God gives second 
chances. 
   You can have a second chance, and God can 
use you. Maybe you feel like your story is over 
because of mistakes youve made or a sin youve 
committed. Get up and run again. Your story isnt 
over. [By Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com re Jonah 3:1] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE


http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170621-1533.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Restoring The Power by Pastor John Bradshaw: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

28 Revelations Of Jesus by Pastors Ivan 
Blake and James Reynaert: 
1st of 28: Divine Dining: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7j1QIKqmY 
2nd of 28: Pictures of the Divine: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNI-OQ7-eQ 
3rd of 28: A Dirty Bible: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkPvBuuFd4 
4th of 28: Cared For: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXyJVdcCds 
5th of 28: Salvation: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX45kGRe1HI 
6th of 28: You Can Change: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0gkvK18fo 
7th of 28: Reprogramming Our Brains: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov36f_RapXc 
8th of 28: Our Holy Father: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XabXLEXsxbY 
9th of 28: Gifts of Service: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtuGZviodkA 
10th of 28: The Holy Spirit: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in89XVs4cGo 
11th of 28: The Law of God: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Q601HjogI 
12th of 28: The Sabbath: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sakgnKoTzZI 
13th of 28: The Church: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkFw2XsTW-w 
14th of 28: The Gift of Prophecy: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiO2VC09NPI 
15th of 28: Stewardship: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_lNLAataw 
16th of 28: Marriage and the Family: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EybxvMQ0K7E 
17th of 28: The Remnant and Its Mission: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK6tix2K2qA 
18th of 28: Christian Behavior: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecVGsQfAo7Q 
19th of 28: God The Son: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgfbTdh3_l0 
20th of 28: Baptism: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsW163qoAic 
Live ongoing series in progress.